The amount of money I pay more than married men does not bother me because it's not outrageous, and (this is the important part), there are many expenses that I don't have to participate in because someone else is demanding those payments for things I don't want or need. I buy everything I want WHEN I want, and I know exactly what I have to spend and what I need to save. There are no hidden expenses or "Honey, I bought a new bag" purchases that have to be figured into the budget at the last minute. The difference in taxes has more to do with government trying to foster a social system that backs the current system more than punishing single people. Governments are generally more stable when families are involved than they are with lots of single people who have fewer ties to the social fabric.